Dermendzhiev succeeds Stoev as Ludogorets coach

Stoicho Stoev has been dismissed as PFC Ludogorets Razgrad coach and replaced on a permanent basis by the club's academy director, Georgi Dermendzhiev.

Stoev, appointed 12 months ago, has paid the price for the Bulgarian side's sluggish start to the season. Ludogorets have won just once – a 4-0 defeat of Luxembourg's F91 Dudelange − in five games in all competitions and did not score in taking one point from their opening two A PFG matches.

On Wednesday, Ludogorets drew 0-0 at home to FK Partizan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie. Having succeeded Ivaylo Petev last July, Stoev guided the Eagles to the domestic double and into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, a run that featured notable victories against GNK Dinamo Zagreb, PSV Eindhoven and SS Lazio.

Dermenzhiev, who made his name as a player at PFC Slavia Sofia in the late 1970s, began working for Ludogorets in 2011. He was assistant coach until this summer, when he took over the running of the academy. "Georgi Dermenzhiev has been an important part of the club in recent years," said Ludogorets owner Kiril Domuschiev. "He knows the club and the setup here. He has our trust."